Health Encyclopedia

Search Adult and Children's Health Encyclopedia

Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment

Ovarian cancer ranks 5th among all cancer deaths for women. Ovarian cancer is most common in older women. It is a little more common in white women than in women of other ethnic groups. This tool will help you figure out if you are at higher risk for ovarian cancer. It is not a complete look at all risks. For a complete look at your risks, see your health care provider.

1. Have you had one or more children? Yes No

2. If you have had a child, how old were you when your first child was born?

3. What is your height?
ft
in
What is your weight?
lbs

4. Have you used estrogen-only hormone therapy to ease symptoms of menopause? Yes No

5. Do you use or have you used birth control pills? Yes No

6. Have you had a hysterectomy or bilateral tubal ligation? Yes No

7. Do you have a personal history of breast cancer? Yes No

8. Do you have one or more relatives with ovarian cancer? Yes No

9. Do you have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation or Lynch syndrome - hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)? Yes No Don't know

About Your results

The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance for ovarian cancer. Below is a list of these risk factors along with a brief explanation of how each risk relates to you according to the answers you gave.

Reproductive history

You told us that you don't have any children, or that you first gave birth after age 30. Women who have no children or had their first child after 30 have a slightly higher risk for ovarian cancer.

You told us that you have had one or more children. Having children lowers your risk for ovarian cancer.

Obesity

According to the height and weight you entered, your body mass index (BMI) is . A BMI of 30 or more means you are obese. You are at a higher risk for ovarian cancer. It's important to try to get to and stay at a healthier weight. You can do this by eating well and exercising regularly. Staying at a healthy weight can lower your risk for ovarian cancer. It also cuts your risk for many other diseases and illnesses.

According to the height and weight you entered, your body mass index (BMI) is . This BMI means you are overweight. Being overweight doesn't raise your risk for ovarian cancer. But being overweight can raise your risk for coronary heart disease and many other health problems. It's important to try to get to and stay at a healthier weight. You can do this by eating well and exercising regularly. If your BMI reaches 30 or more, you will be at a higher risk for ovarian cancer.

Congratulations! According to the height and weight you entered, your body mass index (BMI) is . By staying at a healthy weight, you have taken action to lower your risk for ovarian cancer. A healthy weight also means you are at lower risk for many other diseases and illnesses. Try to stay at a healthy weight by eating well and exercising regularly.

Hormone therapy

Because you have used estrogen-only treatment to ease symptoms of menopause, you are at increased risk for ovarian cancer. Studies have shown that using estrogen-only treatment for a long time can raise your risk for ovarian cancer. Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of using hormones. Talk with your provider about other treatments you can use.

Good news! You're not at increased risk for ovarian cancer due to estrogen-only treatment. Studies have shown that using estrogen-only treatment for a long time can raise your risk for ovarian cancer. If you are thinking about using hormones for symptoms of menopause, talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of using hormones. Talk with your provider about other treatments you can use.

Surgical history

Because you have had a hysterectomy or bilateral tubal ligation, you have cut your risk for ovarian cancer. Studies have shown that having these surgeries can lower your risk for ovarian cancer.

According to your answers, - you have not had a hysterectomy or bilateral tubal ligation. Although these surgeries may lower your risk for ovarian cancer, medical experts agree that they should only be done for valid medical reasons other than cutting your risk for ovarian cancer. Ask your doctor if surgery would help you at this time.

Oral contraceptives

You use or have used birth control pills. Using birth control pills at some point in your life lowers your risk for ovarian cancer. The longer you take the pill, the lower your risk becomes. This lowering of risk goes on long after you stop taking the pill.

Birth control pills also may raise your risk for blood clots, breast cancer, and other cancers. These risks seem to go back to normal after you stop taking the pill. Talk with your health care provider about the risk and benefits of birth control pills.

You have never used birth control pills. Using birth control pills can lower your risk for ovarian cancer. But the pills may raise your risk for blood clots, breast cancer, and other cancers. If you think you are at a high risk for ovarian cancer, you may want to talk to your health care provider about the risk and benefits of birth control pills.

Personal and family history

You have a family history of ovarian cancer. The more relatives you have with ovarian cancer, the higher your risk. Your family history of ovarian cancer put you at higher risk. You may want to talk with your health care provider about genetic testing. Gene testing can tell you if you have an inherited gene mutation that raises your risk.

You have a personal history of breast cancer. Having been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past raises your risk for ovarian cancer. You may want to discuss your risk for ovarian cancer with your health care provider.

Genetic mutations

You have told us that you have been diagnosed with one of the inherited risk factors for ovarian cancer. These are BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and HNPCC. These inherited factors can greatly boost your risk for ovarian cancer. They put you at a high-risk level. Some women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation or HNPCC may choose to have surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes. This surgery is done when they have decided not to have any more children. This surgery greatly lowers their risk for ovarian cancer.

You have told us that you don't have or don't know if you have any inherited risk factors for ovarian cancer. Genetic risk factors are BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations and HNPCC. These factors can greatly increase your risk for ovarian cancer. If you have close family relatives who have had breast, ovarian, or colorectal cancer, you may want to talk with your provider about genetic testing. Testing can tell you if you have any of these risk factors.

About risk factors

Most women with ovarian cancer don't have any known risk factors. Still, it's important to know about risk factors. All women are at risk of developing ovarian cancer, but the risk is generally low. Family history of ovarian cancer and gene mutations are major factors that raise the risk for ovarian cancer. If this assessment shows that you have higher risk of developing ovarian cancer, you should discuss this with your health care provider. The risk of developing ovarian cancer goes up with age. This cancer generally happens after menopause. Although most cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in older women, the disease can still occur in younger women.

Early cancers of the ovaries tend to cause vague symptoms. They can be caused by many conditions that are not cancer. These symptoms include:

General abdominal discomfort or pain. This includes gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, and cramps.

Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or frequent urination

Feeling of fullness even after a light meal

Shortness of breath

Feeling tired all the time

Abnormal bleeding from the vagina

If you have these symptoms - especially if they last more than a few weeks - see your health care provider for a complete evaluation.

If your risk for ovarian cancer is high, your provider may suggest having checkups more often. That way, if cancer develops, it can be found and treated as early as possible. Some exams and tests that your health care provider might do are:

Pelvic exam. This is done to look at the uterus, ovaries, bladder, and rectum. The doctor looks for any problems in their shape or size. He or she also looks to see if the fallopian tubes are dilated or filled with fluid. (A Pap test is used to find cancer of the cervix. It is often done along with the pelvic exam, but it is not a reliable way to find or diagnose ovarian cancer.)

Transvaginal ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to create a picture of the uterus and ovaries. This is done to figure out whether a growth is likely to be a cancer or a fluid-filled cyst.

CA-125. Blood tests for ovarian cancer may include measuring the amount of CA-125. This is a protein that may be higher in many women with ovarian cancer. This test is not always accurate because other diseases can raise the blood levels of CA-125. This makes a false positive. Some ovarian cancers may not make enough CA-125. This makes a false negative.

Genetic testing. If you have close family members who have had breast or ovarian cancer, your provider may talk with you about genetic testing. This will tell you if you have a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, or if you have HNPCC. These genetic conditions have been linked to increased risk for ovarian, breast, and colorectal cancer.

This information is not intended as a substitute for professional health care. Always consult with a health care provider for advice concerning your health. Only your health care provider can determine if you have ovarian cancer.